Type-writing machine.



PATENTED MAY 7, 1907.

'0. W. HOWELL- TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.28. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOH .PATENTED MAY 7. 1907.

I 0'. w. HOWELL.

- TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION TILED JAN. 28. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I No. 852,721. I'PATBNTEI) MAY 7, 1907.

0. W. HOWELL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 28. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOI? PATENTB'D MAY 5, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHBE1 4.

G. W. HOWELL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

v AIPLIUATION FILED JAILZB. 1905.

A. m mm mm m m. A. 8R v a @m m NM M WW Hm m Q I .L E Q I Q Q I, wk w w.. um um] i lllllrx W Q KIN .H. Q a H w a, L mm f VI. ma. \L w W HJIIIIIWI IQN .eN @N 5 "man, 0. c.

WITNESSES. 41

- concluding claims.

' the carriage and platen.

=32. Fig. 5 is a plan of the frame-work of the v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES WV. HOWELL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO SUN TYPE WRITER COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF TYPE--WR|TING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed January 28, 1905, Serial No. 243,077.

To all whom, it may. concern.- l

Be it known. that I, CHARLES W. HOWELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident l of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Type-lVri ting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to writing'machines of the front strike variety, in which the typebars carry multiple types, provision being made for shifting the platen up and down to enable different types to print. Inthe par-' ticular class of machines to which my invention pertains, the carriage travels upon tracks which are mounted upon a frame, the latter being shiftable up and down together with The object of my invention is to improve and simplify the shifting mechanism particu larly with a view to economy in manufacture, durability, ease and certainty of operation, compactness of parts, and lightness of structure.

My invention further relates to improvements in the key mechanism for shifting the platen to different points from normal position.

To these and other ends, my invention consists in certain combinations of devices, construction of mechanism, and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a sectional elevation taken from front to rear of a Sun typewriting machine, showing my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the shift-key mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of'the machine, showing the platen and carriage shifted' to position for writing figures. Fig. 4is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the fig"re key as having been depressed as seen at Fig.

machine, the'shiftable carriage-track frame, and shift key mechanism, with connections. Fig. 0 is a. rear view of the carriage-track frnniie and connections.

The 'l'ninwwork of the machine comprises a rectangular base having sides 1,.2, front wall 3, and'rea'r wall l. Type-bars 5,.which swing l(ll'l\\'l.ll(ll against a platen6, are pivoted upon a rod 7 monntmlin a fixed segment The type-bars are connected by I mechanism (not shown).

links 9 to bell-cranks or levers 10, hearing character-keys 11. The platen 6 is journaled in the sides or ends 12, 13 of a carriage, which also comprises a rear bar 14, and runs upon tracks 15 and 16, the former being grooved to' receive bearing balls 17, and the carriage-frame comprising a longitudinal bar riage frame also comprises a rack-bar 21, en-

gaging a pinion 22, the latter connected to an escapement wheel 23, which in turn is controlled by the type-keys by means of suitable The pinion 22 is long enough. to maintain engagement with the rack 21 as the latter shifts up and down with the carriage, the axis of said pinion being vertical, to correspond with the shifting movement of the carriage. T he carriage is propelled by a spring barrel 24, being connected thereto by a strap 25.

The tracks 15 and 16 are carried upon or form a part of a vertically shiftable frame, the principal portions of which form a single casting, and comprise upper and lower bars, 26 and 27, and sides or ends 28-, arms 30 extending forwardly from said sides to support said track 15. The carriage-track frame or casting also comprises a yoke 31, which is connected to the ends of the frame and carries a depending arm 32, the lower end of which is pivoted at 33 to the rear end of a member generally designated as 34, which serves as a guide-link for said arm, and is in the form of a vibrating frame, movable up and down upon pivots 35 fixed in the opposite sides of the base rsai d frame 34 comprising a rear bar 36, a shaft 37, and braces 38, all forming a single casting; said shaft being supported at its ends upon said pivots 35, and carrying an adjustable spring 39, which partly balances the weight of the platen carriage and carriage-track frame.

To the sides of the carriage-track frame are pivoted at 40, the rear ends of a pair of links 41, which extend downwardly from said pivots and. forwardly beneath the track 15' screws 50.

and are pivoted at their front ends at 42 to standards 43 cast upon base sides 1 and 2,

and' forming part of the frame-work of the These links ll guide' the carriage machine; track frame vertically, that is, they prevent said frame from moving backward or: forward to any appreciable extent during the shifting movements of said frame; while the mined by the co-operation of hnks or link ;members 41 and '34.

Normally the carriage-traek'frame rests upon an adpistable stop-screw 44, said frame being providedu lth a lug 45 for this purpose;

and the upward movement of the frame is limited by an adjustable stopscrew 46, which is in the path of a part 47 cast upon the frame.

In order to maintain the carriage tracks level, I prefer to use a pair of rods, props or supports 48 between the sides 28 of the carri-agetrack frame and the sides of the vibrating frame which lies across the base and comprises the parts 36, 37 and 38. The pointed tops of said rods are inserted in holes or cups 49 formed in the sides 28; and the rods are also pointed at their bottom ends and inserted in the cupped tips of adjustable screws 50, which extend up through arms 51 cast upon the said vibratmgframe and connected by the bar 36. By adjusting the screws independently up and down, the=rods48may be caused to support the=':--carriage track frame equally, so that ,thelevel of the latter is maintained under all conditions, while freedom of movement of the parts is permitted,

since said rods fit loosely in the holes or cups formed in the carriage-track frame and the {,"III order to prevent lateral or transverse movement of the carnage-trackframe, that upon which I cast vertical guides 52 and 53, having upon their'opposing.

faces vertical ball grooves 54, in which run balls 55; while upon the carriage-track frame I provide a pair of flanges 56, between said guides 52, 53, to co-operate with Said grooves I 54 to form raceways for the balls; the working faces of said flanges being vertical and plane. The only function of tlns uiding means is to prevent movement of t e carriage track frame transversely of the ma chine during its up and down movements,

and grooves are hence unnecessary in said flanges. This plane construction of the bearings 56 permits the carriage-track frame to move up and down in an are about the pivots 42, notwithstanding the guiding of the balls 55 in the vertical guides 54. Thus it will be seen that the carriage-track frame cs unot direction of the: ro -of the carriage, l fiX -t), bracket or transverse bar 54 upon the .base,

bind under any circumstances, but must al- 3 ways move freely and accurately; while the parts are simple in construetion'and opera-' tion. The guides 54 may be provided with keepers 57 for the balls.

From the shaft 37 of the horizontal shifting frame in the base extends forward an opernt ing arm 58, carrying a capital shiftkey .39 and a figure-shift key 60. When the parts are in normal position, as at Fig. 1 and 2, the platen is-atits lowest point, so that when the type-hars are operatedthelower case letters print. By depression of the operating arm 58, the carriage-track frame is lifted to a position tov enable the capital types to print, these being the middle types upon the typebars: the upward movement of the carriagetrack frame being limited by the engag0- ment of a stop 61 with a lug 62 fixed upon the base of the machine. Said stop 61 may he. moved out of the way of the lug 62, so as to permit 'a full upward movement of the carriage-track frame and platen to the position seen at Fig. 3, to enable the figures to prlnt; such movement of the stop 61 being provided for by pivoting the stop at 63, upon the front end of the operating arm 58; the figure key being secured upon the same pivoted plate 64 that carries said stop 61, and said'figure key being upon the right of said pivot 63, while said stop is below said pivot, so that when said key is depressed, it causes the stop 61 to swing to the left, where itwill notrncounter the lug 62. The key 59 may he also secured upon the same plate 64, and the vibration of the plate maybe limited by a lug 65 projecting forwardfrom the tip of the'operating arm58, within a notch 66 formed upon said plate 64. By having the key 59 at the left and the key 60 at the right of pivot 63 dei'ed either active or inactive according to the key depressed, the pressure upon either of said keys causing a movement of said stop in-either one direction or the other, to an ex tent governed by the'lug 65.

A locking lever 67 is pivoted at 68 to the base of the machine, and provided with a friction spring 69 and a finger piece 70. The operating arm 58 has upper and lower hearing surfaces 71 and 7 2, upon which catches a hook 73 of said locking lever; the engage-.

be resorted to .within the and. portions of my improvements 1 may be used without others.

its engagement with the y it is insured that the stop 61 shall be ren- 4 ment of the latter with the bearing 72 serving and 72 are nearly concentric Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a paper carriage, of a vertically shifting track-frame upon which said carriage runs, links pivoted to said frame at different heights, and also to the frame-work of the machine, and guiding means, including a set of balls, to prevent lateral movement of the shifting frame. A

2. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen carriage, of a vertically shitting frame supporting said platen carriage, horizontal links pivoted to the said frame at different heightaandfneans, includin a seto'i' balls, to prevent lateral play of said frame.

3. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a traveling paper carriage, of a vertically shifting frame provided with front and rear guide-rails or tracks for the carriage, a vibrating horizontal frame carrying the shifting frame at its lower end, and-a )an' of adjustable supporting rods extending )etween the two frames at the sides thereof.

4. in a front-strike \\'i'iting nacliine, the combination with a trave ing paper carriage, of a vertically shifting frame provided with front and rear guide rails for the carriage, guide links pivoted at their front ends to the framing of the mar-lune forward of the front guide rail, and at their rear ends to the shifting frame behind the front guide rail, said links being offset to clear the guide rail, and means eo-operating with said links to guide said shifting frame.

5. In a frrmt-strike writirig-machine, the combination with a paper carriage, of a verti- (ally shifting carriage track frame, said frame being supported at its lower end by a horizontally ll'ispflbktl *ibrating frame to which it is )ivoted, and at its upper end by pivoted links at its sides, the l'iorizontally disposed frame and links being pivoted at their rear ends to the vert ieallysl'lifting frame, and at their front ends to the frame of the machine. 1

6. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a paper carriage, of a vertically shifting carriage-track frame, vibrating supports for the frame, consisting. of links pivoted at their rear ends to the upper part of the frame, and aborizontal frame pivoted at its rear end to the lower partof the shifting frame, said horizontal frame being pivoted to the base of the machine, and being provided with a forward extension having a shift-key.

7. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with a base, of a horizontal frame lying across said base and journaled I thereon, so that the rear partof said frame may vibrate up and down, a key connected to said frame, a carriage-track frame movable up and down and having a depending and having a depending arm pivoted tothe rear portion of said vibrating frame, a partial counterbalance spring for said carriagerea rup and down, a shift key,' a carriage-track ame movable up and down track frame, a carriage mounted upon'said carriage-track frame, and type-bars m ountc-d to strike rearwardly.

9. In a typewritmg machine, the combination with a base, of a vibrating member journaled upon said base and having a keybearing arm extending forwardly from its journal, and also having a part extending rearwardly from said journal, a carriagetrack frame having a depending arm pivoted to said rearwardly extending part, cooperative means for guiding said carriagetraok frame in its upward and downward movements, a platen carriage mounted upon said carriage-track frame, andv rearwardly striking type-bars.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combi nation with a key-controlled rocking member, of a carriage-track frame having a depenr ing arm engaging said rocking member and guided thereby, a pair of guide-links connee-ting the ends of said carriage-track frame to the framework of the machine, a platen carriage upon said carriage-track frame, and rearwardly striking type-bars.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combi nation with a base, pf a key-operated member pivoted upon said base so as to vibrate.

up and down, a carriage-track frame having a depending arm pivoted to the rear end of said pivoted member, a pair of guide links connecting said carriage-traek frame to the framework of: the machine, means, including bearing balls and tracks therefor, 'for guiding the carriage-track frame in its up and down movements so as to prevent lateral movement of said carriage-track frame, andrearwardly striking type-bars.

12. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a base, of a member journaled in said base to vibrate up and down, a key mounted upon said member, arnrriz getrack frame having a depending arm pivoted to said member, a pair of links extending forwar dly from the sides of said carriage traek frame and pivoting at their forward ends to the'framework of the machine, a vertical fixed guide to prevent lateral movement of' the carriage-track frame, a platen earriage upon said carriage-track frame. and rear; wardly striking type-bars.

13. In afront-strike writing-machine, the;

combination with a base, ofa member pivoted thereon to vibrate up and down, a key for operating said member, a carriagetrack.

frame having an arm pivoted to said pivoted member, fixed vertical guidesextending upwardlyfrom said base, balls in said guides, bearings upon said carriage-trackframe to engage said balls, whereby the carriagetrack frame is prevented from moving laterally, and links extending forwardly and pivoted at their front ends upon the framework.

14. Ih a front-strike writing-machine, the" combination with a base, of a member pivoted upon the base, a shift-key, a,carriagetrack frame pivoted to said l nemher, upwardly extending. vertical guides fixed upon said base, balls in said guides, bearings upon horizontally within said base and extending across the same and journaled thereon, a carriage-track frame havin': an arm pendent from the middle portionfhereof and pivoted to said journaled frame, supports extending up from the sides of said journaled frame to the sides of said carriage-track frame, means 7 for guiding the carriage-track frame up and down, a platen 'carria-ge upon said carriagetrack frame, and rearwardly striking typebars.

16. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with a base, of a key-operated frame lying horizontally within said base and extending across the same and journaled thereon, a carriage-track frame having a pendentarm pivotedto the middle portion of said key-operated frame, justable links or supports extending up from the sides of said key-operated frame to the sides of said carriage-track frame, a pair of guide-links extending forwardly from sa1d carriage-track frame and pivoted to the framework, fixed vertical guides for said carriage-track frame, platen carriage upon said carriage-track frame, and rearwardly striking type-bars.

17. In a front-strike writing machine, the combination with a platen-carriage and series of rezu'wardly striking t vp(. -bars. of a vertically shiftable carriage-track frame thereon said carriage runs. a pair of links E pivoted to the sides of said carriage-track 1 fran-ie-and extemiing fmwvardlv and connected at their forward ends to the framework.

vertically ad-' I and means co-operating with said links to guide sa1d carriage-track frame in its-upand down movements.

combination with a platen carriage and 'a'serles of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a vertically shiftable carriage-track frame whereon said carriage runs, a pair of links .prlvotedfto the sides of said-carriage-track ame and extending forwardly and connectwork, and means co-operating with said links to guide said carriage-track frame in the up and down movements; said guidin means including an arm depending from sai frame, and a guiding member pivoted to the lower end of said arm and also pivoted to the framework.

I 19. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combinationwith a platen carriage and a se ries of rearwardly striking type-bars, of "a carriage-track frame whereon said carriage runs, said frame being movableup and down, a pair of links pivoted to the sides of said carriage-track frame and extending forwardly and connected at their forward ends to part of the framework, and means cooperating with said links to guide said carriage-track. frame in its up and down movements; said guiding means including an arm depending from said carriage track frame, a device cal guiding means which prevent lateral movement ofsaid carriage-track frame; said vertical guiding: means includin vertical grooves, balls in said grooves, an bearings for said balls. I

20. In a front-strike writingmachine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a track frame whereon said carriage runs, said frame being verticallyymovable, a pair of links pivoted to the sides of said carriagetrack frame and connected at their ends to a part of the frame-work, and means co-operating with said links to guide said carriagetrack frame in its up and down movements; said guiding me ans including an arm depending from said frame, a device guiding the lower end of said arm and also including a member having a pair of vertical ball grooves and a member having bearing surfaces opposed to said grooves, and balls in sa1d grooves.

'21. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a vertically movable carriage-track frame whereon said carriage runs, a pair of horizontal links pivoted to the sides of said carriage-track frame 5 and extending to a part of the framework, and means (o-operating with'said links to guide said carriage-track frame in its up and dmvn movements; said guiding means in.v l eluding an arm depending from said frame, a

18. In a front-strike writing-machine,the.

ed at their forward ends to part of the frame- 7 guiding the lower end of said arm, andvertiand means also engaging the sides means for preventing said frame from device guidmgjthe lower end of said arm; said vertical guiding means also including a memher having therein a pair of vertical ball grooves and a member having bearing sur faces opposed to said ball grooves; said bearmg surfaces being plane, so that said balls may serve only to take the transverse thrust of the frame due to the movement of theearriage there-along,

In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a carriagetrack frame movable up and down, guiding means connected to the upper portion of said earriage-track-frame for preventing forward or backward movement thereof; means also connected to the lower portion. of said carriage-tra'ck frame for preventing the same from swinging or tilting forwardly or backwardly, independent means for preventing the said frame from moving transversely,

of said earriage-track frame for keeping the while shifting up and down.

. 23. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a carriagetrack frame movable up and down, guiding means for preventing forward and backward movement of said carriagetrack frame,

moving transversely, and-relatively adjustable means also engaging the sides of carriagetrack frame for keeping the same level at the I shifting operation.

24. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a carriage-- track frame movable up and down; pivoted devices connected to the sides of said-frame and also to the lower portion thereof for guidand lower portions of said carriage-track 5? ing the same up and down; and a spring tiallv balancing said frame and carriage.

25. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a earriage=traok frame movable up and down, and guiding links connected to the upper frame andjpivoted to the framework.

26. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a carriage-track frame movable up and down, and guiding links connected to the upper and lower. portions of said carriage-track frame and pivoted to the framework; said guiding links extending forwardly from said track frame, and the latter being provided with means to prevent transverse movementthereof, including a member having vertical ball track, a ball running upon said track, and a member having plane vertical bearing surface to bear upon said ball.

same level par- I 27 In a front-strike writing-machine,- the combination with a platen carriage and a series of rearwardly striking type-bars, of a l carriage-track frame movable up and down, I and means, including a link pivoted to said frame and also to the framework of the ma chine, for guiding said-frame in its up and down movements, said guiding means ineluding bearing balls and tracks for preventing transverse movement of said frame.

28. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen-carriage, of a track frame for said carriage, said frame being shiftable up and down, a set of forwardly extending links pivoted to said shifting frame at different heights and pivoted at their forward ends to the framework of the machine, and independent means for preventing sidewise movement of the shifting frame.

29. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen carriage, of a I frame shiftable up and dorm and supporting said carriage, a pair of horizontal links pivoted to said frame and also to the framework of the machine, a third link also pivoted to said shiftable frame at a different,v height i from said pair of links, said third link being pivoted to the framework, and means, ineluding a set of balls and a'track therefor, to prevent lateral play of said frame, while permitting the latter to be guided by said I links.

30. In a front-strike writing-machine, the combination with a platen carriage, of a carrlage-track frame sh ftable up and down, I means for guiding said frame 1n 11's up and down movements, so that it cannot move forl wardly or backwardly, said guiding means ineluding a key-controlled rocking frame movl extending from the sides of said rocking frame to the sides of said carriage-track frame.

31. In a front-strike writing-machine, the

combinationwith a platen carriage, of a can lriage-tr ack frame shiftable up and down, i means for guiding said frame, said guiding 1' means including a rocking frame movable up and down, and a pair of independently adl justable supports extending from the sides of said rocking frame to the sides of said carriage-track frame.

82. In a ty 'ie-writing machine having a base, the combination. with a platen carriage and a series of ream *ardly striking type-bars, of a carriage-trackframe, links pivoted to l the sides of said frame and extending for l wardly to the front of the machine and piv- 3 oted to the framework at their forward ends; l means, including a set of bearing balls, for l'guiding said track frame in its up and down movements, so as to preventlateral movement thereof, a frame lying in the base of the lmachine and pivoted thereto so as to rock able up and down, and a pair of supports.

up and downpsaid frame being pivoted at its name to this specification in the presence of rear end to said carriage-track frame, a key two subscribing Witnesses. for operating said pivoted frame, and inde- 1 pendently adjustable supports between the i CHARLES VV'HOVVELL 5 sides of said ivoted frame and sides of said Witnesses:

carriage-'trac frame. M. V. DOYLE,

In testimony whereof I have signed my RUssELL-M. EVERETT. 

